Stolen valor scandal rocks Trump-endorsed Republican as party sweats over Nevada seat

Trump-endorsed Nevada congressional candidate David Flippo has been caught misrepresenting his own military record, repeatedly telling supporters he earned a Bronze Star with a valor citation during more than 20 years in the Air Force, when in fact his actual 2004 award carried no such distinction.

The controversity was initially reported in The Washington Post on Thursday.

A standard Bronze Star recognizes solid overall service. The valor version, denoted by an added "V" device, is reserved for troops who displayed genuine bravery while actively engaged with the enemy, a much higher and far less common bar to clear. Experts who study military honors say blurring the line between the two isn't a harmless exaggeration, but functionally equivalent to fabricating an honor altogether.

The false claim wasn't a one-time slip either. It first surfaced in a campaign announcement video years ago, then resurfaced again this year in fundraising appeals sent out during his current run. Flippo's campaign has acknowledged the error and apologized, attributing it to a staffing mistake rather than intentional deception.

Flippo just emerged from a crowded 13-candidate primary to become the GOP nominee in Nevada's 2nd Congressional District, a seat the party has comfortably held ever since it was first established in 1983. Rep. Mark Amodei, the current officeholder Flippo is seeking to replace, has pointedly declined to endorse him, leaving questions about how enthusiastically the broader party will rally behind a nominee already facing credibility questions in what should otherwise be an easy hold.

The controversy adds Flippo to a growing list of politicians accused of embellishing military service, including Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX), who was found to have overstated his Bronze Star count, and Ohio GOP congressional candidate J.R. Majewski, whose campaign was sunk after it emerged he lied about being deployed into combat in Afghanistan.